Our Earth has existed for 45 million centuries but this is the first time one species—ours—has the planet’s future in its hands. Advances in biotechnology, cybertechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence—if pursued and applied wisely—could empower us to boost the developing and developed world and overcome the threats humanity faces. But we must avoid dystopian risks. There is no “Planet B” if we do not care for our home planet.

Martin John Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow, OM, FRS, FREng, FMedSci, HonFBA Martin Rees is the United Kingdom’s Astronomer Royal. Based at Cambridge University, he has been Director of the Institute of Astronomy and Master of Trinity College. He is a crossbencher in UK’s House of Lords and was President of the Royal Society from 2005-2010. Rees is the recipient of many international awards and lectures, writes and broadcasts widely for general audiences. His books include Before the Beginning, Our Final Century?, Just Six Numbers, Our Cosmic Habitat, Gravity’s Fatal Attraction, and—most recently—On the Future: Prospects for Humanity.